Where does everyone advertise?

[monique_evette]

Hi everyone! I was just wondering what are my options for advertising. I was thinking about putting my name in the yellow pages and running an ad in the newspaper, but have found that not many photographers advertise in the newspaper. Well none in Huntsville anyway. In addition, some have told me that using the yellow pages only attracts budget shoppers. So what other options do I have? Right now I am concerned about Seniors (its getting close to that time)
and Weddings.

I’m in the process of getting a nice website so I want to make sure that is put to good use as well. Can anyone give me some good direction?

As always, thank you for your input!

[Quok1mb0]

This is what I am doing...te hell with spending alot of money! From what I have priced you can have a nice four color print buisness card times 2000 for like 50 to 100 bucks. Well I am doing everything the old fashioned way. I go from place to place, salon to salon, nail shop to nail shop, bulletin board to bulletin board, (you get the picture) and i make my spill to the manager of the place, show them my card, tell them what i do and all of that and ask if I can leave some cards there...i have found that ohhhh 9 times out of 10(that is so cliche) they say yes. and it is relatively cheap and yeah.

I have had my cards out and about now for MAYBE (big maybe) a month, and have had 4 calls or so. have not set up anything yet except a bridal shoot at the fort worth gardens when ever she gets her gown. So yeah...thats how I am rolling this bad bay!!! LoL

Laters!

[monique_evette]

Thanks for the advise, but have tried that...
I'm kinda looking for something more effective.

[*Mike*]

You'll find that the newspaper is very ineffective. In essence, you pay fairly high prices for an ad that goes in the trash after 5 minutes of exposure. I tried it even though a lot of people had told me the same thing - learned it for myself.

As for the yellow pages... it depends on the company how much you'll pay. I've got a listing in Area-Wide for about $35 a month (discounted rate). It's an okay size, but overshadowed by several others... So far, I've gotten maybe 2-3 calls over a period of six months from it. I'm still debating whether or not I'll renew. If so, I'll go a lot bigger with the ad. But, we have three phone book companies here - so unless you pay for all three it's hit or miss anyway. My high dollar clients have not come through the phone book either.

The best advertising by far has been networking, building a referral base, and lastly our website. The website is the way most people find us. Have a decent one, spend a few bucks advertising it, or at the very least get on every free photographer directory you can find.

Lastly, if you're looking for seniors... you can probably buy the list of seniors from your local school district pretty cheap. Do some nice mailings. Do it yourself, use Marathon, or get a bulk mail permit if you want to make a regular thing of it. In my experience, they've at least payed for themselves (more so than some other advertising). And, done well, you may have a decent response. Oh, and you can always try contacting the school for some other options. I had one offer to put out a framed poster over some postcard advertisements in the office for me.

Here's the special we've got up on our site:
http://www.bellesphotography.com/specials.htm

[JohnT]

I have a decent web site.
I give out biz cards as much as possible.
Word-of-mouth advertising works in my favor.
I'm considering putting advertising on my truck's rear window. However, I'm concerned that I'd be shouting "come steal my equipment!" so I haven't decided yet.
I've thought about a print ad in a local business directory, but that runs around $600 per year, and it didn't work all that great for another business I used to have.

[ShaneKislack]

Talk to the school district and see if you can advertise on campus.

[monique_evette]

You can buy a list of students!?! I don't know if that is a good idea on the schools behalf, but I'm going to take advantage of it. Thanks for the idea!

Originally Posted by *Mike*

Lastly, if you're looking for seniors... you can probably buy the list of seniors from your local school district pretty cheap. Do some nice mailings. Do it yourself, use Marathon, or get a bulk mail permit if you want to make a regular thing of it. In my experience, they've at least payed for themselves (more so than some other advertising). And, done well, you may have a decent response. Oh, and you can always try contacting the school for some other options. I had one offer to put out a framed poster over some postcard advertisements in the office for me.

Here's the special we've got up on our site:
http://www.bellesphotography.com/specials.htm

[mettur]

If you are trying to get student's business is to approach the booster clubs. At my daughter's school, there are so many booster clubs, and each one of them looking for advertisers to generate income from the event brouchures. These event brouchures are viewed by the parents, teachers and students, the exact demographics you are targetting.

I have not tried any of them, I have seen others put ads in those event brouchures.

Sso far I have been taking event pictures for my friends, and people are starting to ask me to come and take pictures. I am not quite ready to go professional and charge them, am still building my "portfolio". I need to get my name establised before I consider start charging people.

Good luck.

[Sonny]

The biggest factors that work for me is word of mouth and advertisement on the back of my Tahoe. Also try Google Local Business Center. It's free and will target your local area.


Newspapers were expensive and a limited amount of time.

[monique_evette]

I would love to advertise using my car, but it really doesn't scream high class.

[HeatherLou]

I work in a hotel, so a lot of my wedding jobs, have come though there, I have a brag book with cards at the front desk and everyone there is very helpful about passing them out for me. (I have a great boss!) So you might try you local hotels, and any DJ services too.

[kalikilum]

Hey Sonny that looks awesome, where did you get that at?

eta. sorry about not mentioning anything about your question, I don't really know about where to advertise, but I do know when I was planning my wedding about 2 years ago, if a photographer didnt' have a website, I didn't consider them, and if they had a poorly designed site, they didn't get even a call.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by monique_evette

I would love to advertise using my car, but it really doesn't scream high class.

Sorry if it's below your standards, but it works! This weekend while at a football shoot, a client contacted me (because of the advertisement on the truck) about photographing his annual high school tournament.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by kalikilum

Hey Sonny that looks awesome, where did you get that at?

eta. sorry about not mentioning anything about your question, I don't really know about where to advertise, but I do know when I was planning my wedding about 2 years ago, if a photographer didnt' have a website, I didn't consider them, and if they had a poorly designed site, they didn't get even a call.

Fast Signs printed and installed it for $170.

[monique_evette]

NO NO, I mean, my CAR does not scream high class! Sorry, that really really came out wrong.

I have a 97' mustang that is rusting over and doesn't look clean even after a good washing. Your idea is neat, and if I had a newer car I would advertise on it in a heartbeat! Plus you can deduct it as a business expense along with your car payments!

Originally Posted by Sonny

Sorry if it's below your standards, but it works!